Colorado Rapids Shane O'Neill to Join U.S. U-20 Squad for Toulon Tournament on June 2nd

May 20, 2013 2:45 PM EST

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Colorado Rapids midfielder Shane O’Neill has been named to the U.S. Under-20 National Team by Head Coach Tab Ramos for the 2013 Toulon Tournament which runs from May 28-June 8. O’Neill will join the squad and fellow Rapids teammate Dillon Serna on June 2 after the Rapids take on FC Dallas on June 1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and stay through the remainder of the tournament.

“Shane has been an important part of our defensive line over the last two months and we’re happy that he can still participate in the tournament while not missing one of our regular season matches,” said Rapids Technical Director Paul Bravo. “Both Shane and Dillon Serna have developed tremendously since their time with the Development Academy teams, and for Tab to recognize that is a great honor for our club and our youth system.”

O’Neill, a Homegrown Player from Boulder, Colo., was a key player in the 2012 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, starting all five games of the tournament where the United States finished second and qualified for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The 19-year-old has started seven of the Rapids’ last nine matches in central defense, during which the Rapids have conceded just six goals and earned a 4-2-3 record.

The 41st edition of the Toulon Tournament features 10 countries placed in two five-team groups. The USA is in Group A with Colombia, Congo DR, South Korea and host France. Group B includes Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria and Portugal. The U.S. opens the tournament against France on Tuesday, May 28, at Stade Léo-Lagrange in Toulon. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. local (1:30 p.m. ET). The group stage features four games, after which the group winners face each other in the championship match and the group runners-up meet in the third-place game. Both matches take place on Saturday, June 8. Following the Toulon Tournament, the USA kicks off the group stage of the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup against Spain on June 21 at Türk Telekom Arena in Istanbul, Turkey.